Christmas worries hit John Lewis

The prospect of a tough Christmas already appears to be hitting John Lewis.

The department stores group's sales last week rose by just 1.8%, a fall in real terms when factoring in the rate of inflation. It is also down on John Lewis's rate of growth of 2.3% through the autumn.

It compares with sales falls running at up to 6% this month among fashion retailers, according to figures from BDO Stoy Hayward.

A trading statement said: 'Overall, trade momentum in the department stores built up during the week after a quiet start, and Saturday's (Nov 10) trade at plus 4.3% left us up on last year,' it said, noting the colder weather encouraged clothing sales.

'We are very well placed for the lead-up to Christmas,' the retailer added.
Sales at John Lewis' chain of 187 Waitrose supermarkets were up 5.1% to £76.4m.

'This was a solid week of sales, in which we hit budget,' the group said of the Waitrose outturn.